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Bob Sansevere: Flip Saunders says Timberwolves are 'almost three deep at every position'

Pioneer Press

Posted:
07/17/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT

Updated:
07/17/2013 08:01:46 PM CDT

Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders thinks he has achieved a good balance in putting next season's team together. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

The Timberwolves have a team in the Las Vegas Summer League, and team president of basketball operations Flip Saunders is taking it all in.

I talked with Saunders on Wednesday about the team he's assembling for 2013-14, as well as the summer league play of top draft pick Shabazz Muhammad and whether Kevin Love should be considered a superstar.

BS: The term superstar is attached to a number of players -- some deserving, some not. Is Kevin Love deserving of the superstar designation?

FS: Well, he's getting there. I always say you're never a real considered superstar until your team is in the playoffs, until you can take your team to the playoffs consistently. Kevin has the makings. Us not making the playoffs previously, I don't think you can put that all on Kevin; he didn't have the right pieces around him, and we had the injuries and some of those factors. I'd say he's the most unique player in our league. You don't find a guy who can get 15, 16 rebounds and yet he's going to go out and win a three-point shooting contest. Having the ability to do that makes him so unique and, many times, if you're unique, you are put in the superstar category.

BS: You have Love and Ricky Rubio. Do you need a third player of their caliber to be successful, or do you just need better role players?

FS: It's a combination of things. It's your whole team blending together and having the right pieces.

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We look at (center Nikola) Pekovic as being that third guy that can have an impact. He's put into a great situation because the two guys you mentioned are, quote-unquote, called the superstars. Pek can play and not have those same pressures those two guys have on them.

BS: Is the team coming together the way you hoped?

FS: We talked about the areas we wanted to improve and balancing the roster. We talked about adding perimeter scoring. We talked about trying to secure the people we had. We secured Chase (Budinger). We're in the process of working on Pek (Pekovic). I think we addressed a lot of those areas. We also were able to work things out and bring back Corey Brewer. He gives us some flexibility to get out and be able to run with Ricky. It also gives us more of a defender.

BS: What or who do you still want to add? Is there a gaping hole?

FS: I think we've done a really good job of balancing. We almost have three deep at every position.

BS: What are you seeing in Vegas that you like?

FS: What I like is we put in an offense, put in a little bit of a defense. The guys we have here are all trying to play within that defensive scheme. Shabazz is out here. It'd be very easy for him to go out and take 20 shots. He's trying to play the offensive and defensive scheme. He's playing hard defensively. People might figure he's not looking very impressive, but we're asking him in his progression to try and prove he's willing to work hard and do the other things it takes to be an NBA player.

BS: Can Shabazz Muhammad have a big impact as a rookie?

FS: A lot depends on the situation you walk into. He's coming into a situation where we have veteran players. For him to get time, he's going to have to go through the process and earn it. I've always said the best way to develop young players is put them in a situation where you give them some responsibility. When they take on that responsibility, and keep improving, you give them a little bit more. But you try to do whatever you can to take as much pressure off them as you can.

BS: How good can he be? Can he be an all-star at some point?

FS: That's yet to be determined. Coming out of high school, everybody thought there was no question he could be. I think a lot will depend. He plays hard. He does have the ability to score. He's not super-athletic, but he does find ways. The biggest thing with him is learning to play within our system. He has the ability to contribute to a playoff-type team.

BS: Do you have enough pieces to make a playoff run this year?

FS: I never want to put expectations on teams, either low or high. You are what you are. I think we have the pieces in place to be able to compete and be competitive with the playoff teams. And if you can do that on a nightly basis, you're going to have an opportunity to make the playoffs.